Forensic Odontology

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Abstract Introduction: Establishing a person’s identity is very important for medico-legal purposes .Forensic odontology is defined as a branch of dentistry which deals with the appropriate handling and examination of dental evidences with the proper evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the interest of justice. In recent times palatal rugae are used for personal identification and sex determination. This study aims to determine the variation in the palatal rugae in males and females which can be used for forensic purposes. Materials and method: Dental stone preparation of the rugae of both males and females from Chennai, aged between 15 to 20 was done. The primary and secondary rugae pattern, shape and length were studied using…show more content…
It requires a combination of different procedures to individualize a person . “Identity” is a set of physical characteristics, functional or psychic, normal or pathological, that can define an individual [1]. Forensic odontology is defined as a branch of dentistry which deals with the appropriate handling and examination of dental evidences with the proper evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the interest of justice [2]. It involves the participation of a dental surgeon in assisting legal and criminal issues[3]…show more content…
It’s development and growth is mutually controlled by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, where specific extracellular matrix molecules are spatiotemporally expressed during development[11] . The first rugae is distinguished in human embryos of 32 mm CRL [12] next to the incisive papilla. Then, in the prenatal stage they are relatively prominent[13]. At birth they are well trained with a typical orientation pattern [13] and in adolescence acquire the final feature shape of each individual[14]. Once they are formed there may be changes in their size due to growth of the palate, but its shape is maintained [15]. Physiologically the palatal rugae are involved in the process of swallowing and help to improve the relationship between food and the taste receptors in the dorsal surface of the tongue [12] and also participated in speech and in the suction in

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